HAVE you thought of raising a rooster as a pet? As it turns out, roosters can be good pets if you start their domestication very early.​Most online sources advise getting a baby chick that would be easy to train as house pet. The younger the better so there's less chance they've already learned the natural order of things from other fowls.

But first, one must have a yard where a rooster can stay for the most part of the day. The next consideration is the neighborhood as some disallow the presence of poultry animals due to sanitation concerns. In addition, roosters will crow during an ungodly hour so make sure you can take care of this situation if someone complains. Finally, see first how your other pets – dogs and cats – will take on another pet with talons.

If you have all the things above under control, the next thing to do is tame your rooster. Regular handling or petting of a young rooster apparently makes this animal affectionate and devoted to its human. As anyone who has been roosters and hens before, they love to follow people around, just like dogs.​After you have made a pet out of a rooster, experts say it must be dewormed and be potty trained as much as possible. They don't advise teaching a rooster how to fight as it will only make them aggressive. When they reach puberty, roosters will naturally prefer to have hens around so it could be a good idea to keep one around. However, others believe they are best kept away from hens so they don't become hormonally “bothered”.

Like dogs, roosters can also take on the role of a security guard. They will crow when they see strangers or even try to peck them to defend yours and their turf.

A rooster pet will also force you to spend time outdoors and even get some sunlight and exercise. ​So, with all these in mind, why not have a cock pet this Year of the Rooster?